Frequently Asked Questions

What is food policy?

Food policy is a decision, program, or project, endorsed by a government agency, business, or organization, which affects how food is produced, processed, distributed, purchased, protected and disposed. Food policy can be local, regional, provincial, national, or within an institution (Vancouver Food Policy Council).

What is food security?

Availability – sufficient food for all people at all timesAccessibility – physical and economic access to food for all at all timesAdequacy – access to food that is nutritious and safe, and produced in environmentally sustainable waysAcceptability – access to culturally acceptable food, which is produced and obtained in ways that do not compromise people’s dignity, self-respect, or human rightsAgency – the policies and processes that enable the achievement of food security

What is food sovereignty and how does it differ from food security?

Food sovereignty is a term coined by members of Via Campesina in 1996. The term is used to describe the rights that people have to define their own food systems. Advocates of food sovereignty put the people who produce, distribute, and consume food at the centre of decisions on food systems and policies, rather than the demands of markets and corporations that they believe have come to dominate the global food system.

The concept of food sovereignty takes food security to another level. Not only should all individuals have the right to food that is available, accessible, adequate, and acceptable, food sovereignty recognizes the importance of all of the people associated with the food production chain. It ensures their voices are heard and that power is equally central to decision making around food policies and practices as it is to its production.

What factors affect food policy?

There are many factors that affect food policy including (but not limited to) regulations, standards, licensing, health and safety, social norms, politics, and relevant issues to a jurisdiction. Just as important are stakeholders who may affect food policy. Some prominent actors include school districts, civil society groups, non-governmental organizations, governmental departments and agencies, and advocacy groups. Most importantly, anyone can get involved in affecting food policy change by joining up with one of these types of actors (like us!) or creating a group of your own.

How does food policy affect me?

Food policy affects you in a variety of ways. Food policies provide the blueprint for how your food is grown, produced, regulated, inspected, how it travels, where it is sold, and at what cost. In addition, food policies affect the ways in which food retailers and restaurants operate. Food policies also have the power to shape the kinds of food environments in your community through zoning, licensing, and regulatory frameworks.

What is a food policy council?

Food policy councils bring together stakeholders from diverse food-related sectors to examine how the food system is operating and to develop recommendations on how to improve it. FPCs may take many forms, but are typically either commissioned by state or local governments, or are predominately a grassroots effort. Food policy councils have been successful at educating officials and the public, shaping public policy, improving coordination between existing programs, and starting new programs. Examples include mapping and publicizing local food resources, creating new transit routes to connect underserved areas with full-service grocery stores, persuading government agencies to purchase from local farmers, and organizing community gardens and farmers’ markets.

While FPC’s are not a new concept, their structures, practices, and policies are still evolving. Although the first food policy council started 30 years ago in the city of Knoxville, they have only gained momentum in the last decade. Today there are nearly 200 active councils in North America alone.

What is our definition of youth?

The TYFPC’s definition of youth is under the age of 30, however, you don’t have to be under 30 to get involved with us.

How can I get involved with the TYFPC?

There are several ways you can get involved in our council. To learn more about The Three C’s of Council Membership and how to get involved as either a community, committee, or council member click here.

Besides the TYFPC, how can I get involved in other areas of food policy and food security?

What other resources are there to learn about food policy issues?

Upcoming Events

CLICK HERE for details about the next TYFPC Community Event: Join us June 5th at Gamma Space (Richmond St W) for "The Modern Farming Experience" – let's expand our view of the modern agricultural experience and how young people fit into the picture. Engage with young people who are tackling the challenge of feeding our cities and our world now and in the future!